King Charles Reunites With Senior Royal Who's Almost Never Seen in Public Anymore
The 90-year-old's last public appearance was at the centenary celebrations honoring the late Queen Elizabeth II.
While senior royals like King Charles and Prince William often remain in the spotlight, some extended members of the Royal Family make only occasional public appearances for various reasons, such as age, health, or reduced royal duties. For instance, the Duke of Kent, Prince Edward, has gradually stepped back from regular engagements over the years, making his appearances rare and especially notable to royal watchers. Recently, on Thursday, May 7th, Charles was joined by Edward for a meaningful and special royal ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
As reported by HELLO Magazine, the King attended a Service of Dedication and Commemoration celebrating the Order of St Michael and St George. Since the service is held only once every four years, this was the first time he had taken part in the event since taking over the role of monarch. At the event, Charles was greeted by his cousin, the Duke of Kent, who continues to serve as Grand Master of the Order. Initially, the 90-year-old royal was seen walking behind the King, dressed in the Order’s traditional robes, but at one point he was also spotted using a wheelchair.
Charles arrived alongside Dame Susan Langley, the Lady Mayor of the City of London, before being formally welcomed by the Duke. They entered the Chapel together for the ceremonial service, and soon after the opening address, the royal procession moved from the Chapel into the Sacrarium, where attendees took their seats for the rest of the ceremony. It's worth noting that the Order of St Michael and St George is one of the prestigious honors granted by the monarch each year, with recipients selected on the recommendation of government ministers, as GB News reported.
The Order was created back in 1818 by the Prince Regent, who later became King George IV. It was first introduced to honor people who served in Malta and the Ionian Islands after the territories came under British control. Later, in 1879, it was expanded to recognize distinguished service in several other areas overseas. Meanwhile, Edward was last spotted at the centenary celebrations of the late Queen Elizabeth II, where he was joined by another rarely seen royal, Princess Alexandra.
At the event, Alexandra stood out in a bright blue jacket paired with a matching scarf, while Edward wore a perfect grey suit. Before this, the Duke of Kent was also a part of another rare public engagement. Earlier this year, he visited the Surrey Space Center in Guildford alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh. The pair were seen sharing a warm moment as they greeted each other with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, highlighting their close bond. Not just this, they were also seen enjoying tea together later that day.
